Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

SC061005 Unique reference number 1 March 2010 Inspection date Nicola McEvinney Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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29 September 2009 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 6 Inspection Report: SC061005

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Brief description of the service

This home is a purpose-built children's home situated in a residential area in a small town on the outskirts of a city. There is ramped access to the front door. It is owned by a local authority. It provides accommodation for up to eight young people of either gender and within the age range of 12 to 16 years. It has gardens to three sides and parking to the front.

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Brief description of the service

The young people are accommodated in single bedrooms and have the opportunity to use a range of recreation and sitting areas. Facilities for cooking, bathing, laundry and storage are provided. The aim of the home is to work with and support young people who may have had troubled experiences, which may include some form of abuse and who may have had previous placement breakdowns. The home has recently changed from being a short-term facility to a long-term unit. The home has waking night staff.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to check on the progress made on the recommendations made at the last inspection and to ensure young people are kept safe.

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Summary

The judgement has not been changed at this inspection, although, there are some good aspects. This is a stable group of young people who have settled well and in the main have built up good relationships with each other and the staff team. There is a competent and well qualified staff team who are clearly committed to the young people they care for. Some staff maintain relationships with young people after they have left the home. This is a positive experience for existing and former young people who are regular visitors, particularly at festival times.

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Summary

There were no requirements and recommendations made at this inspection. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has worked hard to address the recommendations made at the last inspection. A number of these related to care planning. Each young person has an individual development plan clearly setting out the needs of the young people including their health needs. The home accesses a children's rights organisation to help young people make representation. Complaints are dealt with appropriately ensuring a good outcome for young people. Behaviour management plans are in place for each young person identifying behaviours with strategies in place to manage these behaviours. This ensures staff have a consistent approach to manage young people. Staff take contemporaneous notes at childcare review meetings and these are shared with young people to ensure they have a good understanding of what has been discussed. Staff support young people to have access to their files.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Individual development plans contain details of the health needs of each young person and sets out how these needs are to be met in the home. There is information of immunisations and health appointments. This ensures that young people's health needs are addressed. Staff 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC061005 seek guidance from the children and adolescent mental health service to give emotional support to individuals who struggle to come to terms with their history.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Staff are sensitive to the wishes and feelings of young people who wish that their looked after status is kept confidential particularly at school. Young people's files are kept securely to ensure confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A children's rights organisation is accessed to help young people make representation. There are plans for the complaints officer to deliver training to the staff team to ensure that any complaints are managed effectively. There has been one complaint recorded in the 'moans and groans' log which was managed sensitively with a good outcome for the young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have attended safeguarding training and have a good awareness of safeguarding issues. The team are proactive in working with other organisations to endeavour to keep young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people are well settled and live in harmony with one another. They confirm that there is no bullying at the home at this time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good links with the missing person police coordinator. Individual protocols are devised to ensure staff take appropriate action when a young person fails to return when expected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person is discussed at the weekly staff meeting and a common approach to manage individual behaviours is agreed. This ensures a consistent approach is maintained. Behaviour management plans are updated accordingly. A number of sanctions are recorded, these are appropriate and this log is monitored by the Registered Manager and the Regulation 33 visitor to ensure young people are treated appropriately. Young people confirm that staff treat them fairly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Comprehensive risk assessments are in place identifying the risk with strategies in place to minimise this risk. These assessments are discussed with the young people to ensure that they are aware of risks and to enable them to keep themselves safe. Fire records are in good order with drills held regularly including at night to ensure that all staff and young people know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The identity of visitors is checked to ensure that only authorised people have access to the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Each young person has an individual development plan setting out their individual needs with guidance to staff on how these needs are to be met in the home. These plans are drawn up with the young people to ensure that they are fully conversant with how they are to be looked after. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC061005 Staff take contemporaneous notes at childcare reviews, these are shared with the young people to ensure that they know and understand what is discussed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Staff support young people to have access to their files to enable them to have an understanding of their history.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC061005

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